“A difficult task” | OneFootball

Kristijan Jakic on Sunday’s meeting with former club Eintracht, Augsburg’s strengths, his move to FCA in 2024 and his new role at the WWK Arena.

Kristijan, you were forced off with a knock against Bochum last weekend. How are you? Have you been given the green light for Sunday? “Yes, everything’s fine again. I got a knock to my ankle, which is why I had to go off. I was able to take full part in training this week, though, and I’m looking forward to the game against Frankfurt.”

You drew 2-2 in Frankfurt in the first half of the season. Did that performance set the benchmark for Sunday? “The second half of that game in particular was very intense, and we even went in front. We deserved to get the point in the end. We’ve continued to grow as a team and that’s exactly what we want to show on the pitch – preferably with a home win.”

What kind of game are you expecting? “Frankfurt have shown of late how strong they are. It’s going to be a difficult task for us, but we’ll give our all and try to make life as difficult as possible for them.”

Who are you looking forward to seeing again the most? “I’m still in touch with people in Frankfurt, even though a lot of former team-mates and friends like Filip Kostic and Hrvoje Smolcic [currently out on loan] are no longer there. It’ll be nice to see some familiar faces.”

What do you think Eintracht can achieve in the Bundesliga? “I think they have a good chance of making the Champions League. Third place is definitely a possibility.”

What was the motivating factor in your move to Augsburg? “FC Augsburg made a big effort to sign me and made their plans clear right from the start. What was really important was that I was given a lot of playing time from the get-go. They’re a good bunch of lads here, which made the decision easier.”

Augsburg have suffered only one defeat in their last 13 games. What makes them difficult tough opponents? “We’ve been incredibly solid defensively since the winter break and are really performing as a unit. Even in tight games, like the one in Bochum recently, we remain calm and focused. There’s also a lot of potential in the team. You can see that in every training session and on the pitch.”

You’re back in the [Croatia] national team. Is playing at the World Cup again an objective of yours? “Definitely. The national team means everything to me. For a lot of lads in Croatia, it’s the biggest goal of all. I know how tough it’s been to get there and I’ll do all I can to play at the 2026 World Cup.”